Suffolk Building Society Conveyancing Panel Information

The information on this page is designed to keep solicitors and licensed conveyancers abreast of latest requirements changes by Suffolk Building Society and to assist in remaining on the Suffolk Building Society Conveyancing Panel.

Suffolk Building Society Solicitor Panel Information:

What are the Suffolk Building Society conveyancing panel criteria?
Unlike the CML the Building Society Mortgage Instructions deal with this. Section A.12 states ‘In order to act on our behalf your firm or company must be a member of our conveyancing panel provided we are a society that operates one – see specific requirements for details of our arrangements. The Special Requirements state:

The Society operates a Conveyancing Panel and in order for Firms to act for the Society you must be appointed to this panel. To be appointed to the panel you should apply at:-
 www.lms.com/lenderpanels
 

You must also comply with the terms and conditions of your Suffolk Building Society solicitor panel appointment.

Do Suffolk Building Society or the Building Society Association run training Courses for the Suffolk Building Society approved solicitor panel akin to the way that CQS do?
This not something that the BSA would traditionally get involved with however they do organise numerous useful conveyancing related conferences which are attended by firms on the Suffolk Building Society conveyancing panel. Lexsure intend to run specific lender focused seminars in the coming months including a webinar on Suffolk Building Society’s requirements . Solicitors on the Suffolk Building Society conveyancing panel will be invited . Information about the webinar will be made available as part of the LENDERmonitor Alerts .
What obligations do I have, being on the Suffolk Building Society conveyancing panel, to carry out an Lender Policy search?
Suffolk Building Society make no specific obligation to carry out any of the searches listed. The BSA Mortgage Instructions simply states that ‘you must ensure that any other searches which may be appropriate to the particular property, taking into account its locality and other features are carried out’.

Please note that most ‘less usual searches’ (as described in the Law Society’s Conveyancing Handbook) are not optional as far as Suffolk Building Society are concerned if they are ‘appropriate’. Most lenders will not require environmental searches (you should Check the Suffolk Building Society Specific Requirements of BSA Handbook to be sure), but you are obliged to explain risks and availability to the client.

Ground stability, Plansearch,flood searches as well as the searches listed in the question are optional – but only to the extent that you have allowed the borrower client to make an informed choice. Regardless of whether there is a mortgage, If you have not advised the client that these (and other) searches are available and what risks they cover, then you will be liable if the client suffers loss through not conducting one.

Are the Council of Licensed Conveyancers taking any action to ensure that licensed conveyancers remain on lender conveyancing panels?
The CLC has entered discussions with lenders and their representative bodies to see whether and how the risks that lenders wish to mitigate could be addressed through the regulatory framework rather than ad hoc arrangements that can differ from lender to lender. It is likely that that the CLC have been in touch with lenders such as Suffolk Building Society in recent years
What type of firms do building societies allow to be on their conveyancing panel?
In the same way that there is a unique Suffolk Building Society conveyancing panel most building societies, operate a conveyancing panel for solicitors and other conveyancers that the lender will instruct. Terms and Conditions and criteria for inclusion on a building society conveyancing panel vary from lender-to-lender. Having CQS accreditation may be a requirement.

Institutional lenders, such as a building society, is a client and is entitled to instruct the solicitor or conveyancer of its choosing (who, in turn, is free to accept or refuse instructions). Therefore, if lender and borrower cannot agree which solicitor or conveyancer should represent them jointly, they would usually proceed on a separate representation basis.

Can the BSA assist me in an appeal having not been accepted onto the Suffolk Building Society conveyancing panel?
If you have not been accepted or indeed been removed from the Suffolk Building Society conveyancing panel then the BSA will not have any part to play in influencing Suffolk Building Society in changing their mind. Please contact us here at Lexsure so that we can put you in touch with a consultant who may be able to assist. At the very least it’s worth a call to us.
The CML Handbook contains conveyancing instructions for a property with a solar panel. Suffolk Building Society do not seem to have any similar obligations via the BSA Mortgage Instructions. Am I missing something?
The BSA Mortgage Instructions don't specifically deal with Solar Panels but it would be prudent as approved solicitors for Suffolk Building Society to raise the issue with them (as you would if the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook applied). In any event you need to raise the appropriate questions for your buyer client.
What lender panels do you receive the most questions about?
BSA lenders do not come within the top 20 lenders in terms of frequency of questions. The most popular lender panels in terms of questions are as follows:

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Average number of days to register title including a charge in favour of Suffolk Building Society
This information relates to purchase only and not remortgages.
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* Data aggregated from sources including COMPLETIONmonitor